What to Expect

Referral Process

We require a letter of referral from your child’s doctor. It is important that this referral include:

Your child’s prior treatments, if any

Results of labs, if any

Appointments can be made before getting a referral, but the referral needs to be obtained before coming to the clinic. Once the appointment is scheduled, you will receive an information packet, including questionnaires to complete. If you have not received these questionnaires, please contact 513-636-4222 to have them sent electronically. You must bring this packet with you to the clinic appointment. The questionnaires will be reviewed by our staff before your child’s evaluation by the medical team.

We will work closely with your child’s primary care physician to treat headache problems. It is important that the primary care doctor be involved throughout the process.

Initial Visit

Our clinics are held on Monday for new patients and Wednesday for patient follow-ups. At the initial visit, the patient is assessed by a child neurologist, child psychologist and nurse practitioners. The evaluation will include:

A review of the questionnaires

Detailed headache history, including family history

Complete neurological and comprehensive headache exam

Assessment by a child psychologist, which helps in identifying roadblocks to treatment

Additional studies may be ordered, such as lab work or medical imaging.

After your child’s evaluation, the Headache Center team will work with your family in developing an individualized treatment plan to meet your child’s needs.

What to bring to your first visit:

Information packet, including questionnaires

Results of previous studies

A written list of questions for team members

Follow-up Appointments

We will continue to treat your child until the headaches are well controlled and no longer a problem. In general, good headache control is defined as few headaches (less than three a month) of short duration and minimal to no disability. Regular follow-ups will be maintained until this level of headache control is sustained.

After therapy is completed, our team remains available to patients and families when needed.